Josh Hader: Starter, closer, or bullpen ace?

While it seems clear the Brewers are content with Hader in the bullpen for the rest of the season, where does he go from here in 2018?

Its going to be hard to give him a rotation spot at least to start 2018 at the MLB level, given the competition. You'd also like to not further weaken the weak point of this team when he's been very successful in his role. But you also don't want to get too far away from him starting if you think his future is a high end starter.

If you're going to groom him in the pen, you could be looking at a future closer, or perhaps a 'bullpen ace' situational type role. Where can he be the most successful and provide the best value to the team?

I think he gets every chance to start from spring next season. A team like the Brewers has to give him every chance to start. Outside of Nelson, I'd say he's more talented than anybody in our current rotation. Should Anderson come back strong, to me the only two guys that have spots assured in the rotation next year are him and Nelson.

he'll be a starter next year. Regardless of the success this year, I dont think our rotation is "locked" up beyond Nelson, Anderson and Davies (baring any year end implosions). his "stuff" is better than everyone else in the rotation.

NelsonAndersonDavies______

Posted: July 10, 2014, 12:30 AM PrinceFielderx1 Said: If the Brewers don't win the division I should be banned. However, they will.

If he shows decent control, managing a reasonably low pitch count, and the changeup is OK, then give him a chance to start. In the bullpen I see him more as what I guess you mean by a bullpen ace, a fireman, an Andrew Miller type. High leverage situations, multiple innings when needed.

I think it depends on him being comfortable with more than just his fastball. He's pretty much all fastball currently (with usage rates falling for his other pitches), that could be a result of moving to the bullpen, or lack or comfort with (or control of) his other pitches could be the reason he's in the bullpen.

If he's going to be all FB-CH or FB-SL, he probably winds up in the bullpen. If he can at least flash the third pitch, I think he can start.

I think he's a bullpen arm. I jut don't think he has the control to be a starter. Ever since he has come to Milwaukee he's averaged less than five innings per start in the minors. He throws way too many pitches becuase he throws way too many balls. You can't have a starter going five innings every time out because it's a bullpen killer. I think he'll get a shot to start but I think he ends up in the pen.

Let's find out how well Woodruff does in the rotation down the stretch here. Bullpen Ace with Kneble isn't a bad outcome. Hader will probably see some starts in the offseason somewhere to keep the IP higher if they do move on to a SP role. As of now he'd be tough to trust with more than 26starts, unless he was never going over 5IP in his starts.

I think it depends on him being comfortable with more than just his fastball. He's pretty much all fastball currently (with usage rates falling for his other pitches), that could be a result of moving to the bullpen, or lack or comfort with (or control of) his other pitches could be the reason he's in the bullpen.

If he's going to be all FB-CH or FB-SL, he probably winds up in the bullpen. If he can at least flash the third pitch, I think he can start.

Hader throws FB-CH-SL, currently he throws FB the most primarily because nobody can catch up to it. It's so hard and with deceptive delivery, throwing a changeup is doing hitters a favor. Judge hit his HR off a Hader changeup. It isn't uncommon for starters to try using only 2 pitches to get through the order the first time as to not show the hitter everything. I don't think Hader will have a problem throwing more secondary stuff the second and third time through an order if they start catching up to the fastball. In the minors he hasn't been a guy that's gotten blown up 2nd/3rd time through. If Hader doesn't make it as a starter, it will be command related and not because his secondary stuff isn't any good.

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